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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Drama Metal!, November 6, 2003
How do you explain Savatage's sound to someone who hasn't heard them? I find this difficult to do without getting into a ten minute description. Basically, they're considered a metal band, but that's too generic of a label for these guys, coz they go so much further. I sometimes hear them refered to as a power metal band, but that doesn't quite seem fitting either. They never really get very fast or wild. I hear "progressive metal" used alot, and I guess that's getting warmer. They're not all over the place like Dream Theater or anything, but they certainly aren't afraid to try things. I gave them a silly label called Drama Metal. The sound is like a metal Broadway play. It's Welcome To My Nightmare-ish without the humor. In fact, these guys are 100% humorless. They're probably a million laughs in person, but the music really goes for emotion-and achieves it! Moreso than any other band in the genre. They sing with such a passion. Sure, it sounds a bit over the top and over exaggerated at times, but this is a musical equivalent of a play here. And in plays, the acting has to be overdone to reach the people further back in the theater. Savatage obviously uses this same method in their music as though they are actually performing a Broadway musical on your stereo system. Their alter ego-The Trans Siberian Orchestra also does this, actually takes it a bit further. The best way to describe them in a few words? Metal guitars, piano, very emotional and poetic lyrics, operatic vocals(not the high pitched kind used in power metal). The Wake Of Magellan is a fantastic album to start with. Though not my personal favorite, it embodies all that is Savatage. Get it now. If you don't like this album, then Savatage isn't for you.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Ultimate Savatage Album, August 1, 2006
It's hard to imagine that Savatage could get any better than their 1995 album Dead Winter Dead, but when they released the Wake of Magellan in 1998 the band did just that.
Like Dead Winter Dead, the Wake of Magellan is a concept album, this time focusing on three seemingly unrelated stories. O'Neill and Oliva weave the three together, while the band makes the story come alive. This is easily Savatage's most epic and progressive album to date, as emphasized by everything from the powerful instrumental tracks to the intricate vocal layering. The Wake of Magellan is an album that recalls the very best of Iron Maiden, Rush, and Queen. This is also the Savatage album most likely to draw parallels with O'Neill and Oliva's highly successful Trans-Siberian Orchestra project.
Founding member Jon Oliva once again contributes vocals to this album. His voice is perfect on those tracks where a little extra aggression is required, and serves as a nice counterpoint to regular (but never ordinary) vocalist Zak Stevens. Sadly, this album is the last Savatage release to feature Stevens on vocals. He has since launched a solo project called Circle II Circle, which should definitely appeal to Savatage fans.
While the album was extremely strong from start to finish, there are some standout songs that rank among Savatage's best, including the title track, the Storm, the Hourglass, and Blackjack Guillotine. The beautiful instrumental tracks are just as impressive. There really isn't a weak moment on the whole album, which remains my all-time favorite Savatage release.
The only difficulty lies in choosing which version to get. The domestic version features three acoustic bonus tracks, but the similarly-priced SPV import might be the better option. It has not been remastered, but the 2002 SPV reissue does have a few extras that make it worthwhile. It features 2 additional tracks - This Is Where You Should Be and an acoustic version of Desiree. The real bonus is that the liner notes have been expanded to include several pages of very detailed information about the band during this particular stage of their career. When added to the chapters from the other SPV Savatage reissues, you'll get the real story behind one of the best (and most underrated) metal bands of all time.
Unfortunately, the SPV reissue does not contain the three acoustic bonus tracks from the regular version, so I have two copies of the Wake of Magellan on my shelf.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite CD. . ., May 12, 2000
Coming from someone with a love for geek-rock (They Might Be Giants, Semisonic, Refreshments), that's saying something. Savatage is like nothing I've ever heard before. It's not exactly metal and it's not exactly prog-rock, somewhere between the two with a little Beethoven mixed in.Great concept, excellent songs. The vocal arrangements on this are stunning, especially when they get 8-10 overdubs harmonizing at the same time. Musically, the band is unbelievable -- shifting time signatures from 5/4 to 4/4, overlaying 5/4 and 6/8, piling on guitar solos and piano riffs until you have a solid wall of sound. Even the delicate moments on the album are intricate and well put together. Individual songs will appeal to different people: "Complaint in the System" is modern rock, "Blackjack Guillotine" old school metal, "Anymore" sounds like an unreleased track from Tommy or Rent, and the title track -- well, it's all over the place, and it rocks. Great CD, something for just about anybody (except your weird cousin Earl with his Britney Spears CDs). Give it a listen, and thou shalt be rocked.
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